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Examples of an investigation title:

"Does the temperature of the water affect the size of a drop of water?"

"Does the surface area of the carbon electrode affect the amount of gas produced during electrolysis?


Stages in designing an investigation

Design

1. Use the investigation help sheet below to formulate a focused research question, design a method and an appropriate results
table.
2. Give the completed pages 1 to 4 to your chemistry teacher who will check for safety and availability of materials.

Data collection and recording

3. Carry out your investigation: collect and record sufficient and relevant raw data so you can answer your research question.
4. Process your raw data.

Conclusion and evaluation

5. Draw a valid conclusion based on the raw data you have collected.
6. Evaluate your method, the materials and equipment you used and how you processed your raw data.
7. Suggest improvements to your investigation.

Writing your report

8. Use the template below to help you write your report and use one of the checklists below to check if all that is necessary is
included in your report.

Planning an investigation help sheet




More extra information on different aspects of designing investigations

  • Appendix A: A guide to practical questions: page 218 in your textbook

Template for writing your report




Assessment criteria


One of the documents below will be used to asses your investigation depending on you processed your raw data using calculations or a graph. Use these criteria as a checklist before you hand in your report.